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Kaylia Nemour has captured the hearts of gymnastics fans worldwide, not just for her incredible skill, but for her groundbreaking achievements. At just 17, she has already made history by winning Algeria and the continent of Africa’s first ever gymnastics gold medal at the 2024 Paris Olympics.
Below, GRAZIA takes a deep dive into the life and career of this extraordinary athlete and what makes her a true trailblazer in the world of gymnastics.
Born in France on December 30, 2006
Kaylia Nemour was born in the city of Saint-Benoît-la-Forêt, France. Her father’s parents are from Algeria, making Kaylia a dual-national of France and Algeria. From a young age, her potential in gymnastics was evident. Her early training in local gymnastics classes laid the foundation for her future success. Born in 2005, she’s currently competing at just 17 years old.
Started Gymnastics at Age Four
By the age of four, Kaylia was already demonstrating remarkable talent in gymnastics. Her early start allowed her to develop the skills and discipline necessary for elite competition.
Switched Allegiances from France to Algeria
Originally representing France, her place of birth, Kaylia switched her allegiance to Algeria. In 2022, Nemour became age-eligible for senior international competition. Despite her personal doctor clearing her for training after knee surgeries, the French national team doctor was reluctant. The French Gymnastics Federation wanted her to leave her club and train in Paris under their supervision, but she preferred to stay with her current setup. This led her to change her nationality to represent Algeria.
Blocked from Competing Until July 2023
Although the International Gymnastics Federation approved her nationality change, the French Gymnastics Federation blocked her from competing in FIG-sanctioned competitions until July 2023. This included major events such as the World Championships and African Championships.
Her Debut for Algeria in October 2022
In October 2022, Nemour made her debut for Algeria at the Arab Championships. She helped Algeria win gold in the team competition and individually secured gold on the uneven bars and silver on the balance beam, finishing behind Jana Abdelsalam.
Competed in French Domestic Events in Early 2023
At the beginning of the 2023 season, Nemour was able to compete in French domestic events. She helped her club, Avoine, win its matchups in the Top 12 Series 2, 3, and 4. At the Top 12 Finals, she scored 15.350 on the uneven bars, the highest score of the entire competition, helping Avoine win the championship.
Petition and Controversy with the French Federation
In early 2023, an online petition began circulating to pressure the French Gymnastics Federation to release Nemour and allow her to compete at the African Championships, which served as a qualifier for the 2023 World Championships. Following a report by French journalist Thierry Vildary, which documented abuse within the French Federation, Nemour was released to compete two weeks later.
Success at the 2023 African Championships
At the African Championships, Nemour helped Algeria finish third as a team. Individually, she won the all-around ahead of reigning African champion Caitlin Rooskrantz and Jana Abdelsalam. This victory earned her an individual berth to compete at the World Championships later that year.
Achievements at the 2023 World Championships
At the World Championships in Antwerp, Nemour qualified for the uneven bars final in third place with a score of 14.733 and the all-around final with a total score of 53.699. These placements made her the first Algerian gymnast to qualify for a World Championship final. She finished 13th in the all-around, securing her spot for the 2024 Olympic Games. In the event final, she won a silver medal on the uneven bars, the first World Championship medal for an African gymnast.
Competitive Success in 2024
In 2024, Nemour began the year competing at the World Cups in Cottbus, Baku and Doha. She won gold on the uneven bars at all three competitions. At Baku, she also scored a bronze on floor exercise, and at Doha, she won silver on balance beam and gold on floor exercise.
Historic Win at the 2024 Olympic Games
At the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris, Nemour qualified for the uneven bars final in first place and finished fifth in the all-around final, the highest placement for an African gymnast in an Olympic all-around final. She then earned a score of 15.700 in the uneven bars final to win the gold medal, becoming the first gymnast from Africa to win an Olympic gold medal in gymnastics.
Eponymous Skill on Uneven Bars
Kaylia Nemour has an uneven bars release named after her in the Code of Points. The release, commonly called the “inbar Nabieva” is an inbar to counter reversed laid out hecht over the high bar. She first performed this skill at the 2023 African Championships, marking her innovation in the sport.
